Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Where Springfield’s Medicaid dollars for feeding therapies are really going.
Be sure to catch Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival on the Springfield Patch calendar

Good morning Springfield! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Where Springfield's Medicaid dollars for feeding therapies are really going.
- How a $6 million gift is reshaping Lutheran High's future.
- How will Springfield alderpersons decide ShotSpotter's future in key neighborhoods?
Today's riddle: What is the 1 way to guarantee winning a small fortune at the casino? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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- Tuesday: Sunshine and very hot, with a high of 99 and low of 73 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Wednesday: Sunshine and very hot, temps: high: 97, low: 74.
- Thursday: Near-record temperatures, with a high of 98 and low of 75 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Springfield sees $260,979 in Medicaid payments for Enteral and Parenteral Therapy in 2024 (sangamonsun.com) — Medicaid spending on enteral and parenteral therapy in Springfield jumped 36.5% from 2023 to 2024, reaching about $261,000 and ranking 11th among local Medicaid categories. Most of that spending was concentrated in ZIP codes 62702 and 62704, outpacing overall Medicaid claim growth in the city and highlighting how local taxpayer-funded health dollars are shifting.
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2. Lutheran School receives decade-building trust to spearhead new high school (sj-r.com) — Lutheran High School in Springfield has secured a $6 million charitable trust gift from St. John's Lutheran Church in Chatham to kickstart construction of a new campus on Woodside Road. The project, expected to cost up to $22 million and finish by 2028, would replace the mine-damaged Washington Street site and give LuHi students modern classrooms, a gym and upgraded athletic fields.
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3. Springfield City Council to consider ShotSpotter renewal (illinoistimes.com) — Springfield alderpersons are set to vote Sept. 1 on a proposed $1.1 million, three-year renewal of the ShotSpotter gunshot-detection system used mainly on the city's east side and central neighborhoods. Supporters cite faster responses and crime-solving help, while skeptics want proof it works and broader investment in neighborhood cleanup, infrastructure, and officer wellness before committing long term.
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4. Springfield Hotel and Lodging Association opposed to county sales tax for BOS Center expansion (capitolcitynow.com) — Springfield's hotel owners are pushing back against a proposed three-percent county hotel-motel tax that would help fund a long-discussed BOS Center expansion. The Springfield Hotel and Lodging Association argues the measure is being rushed, questions the full rate, and wants feasibility studies and safeguards before visitors face higher room taxes.
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5. Santa Anna's prosthetic leg going back on display at Springfield museum (nprillinois.org) — A unique piece of history is returning to public view in Springfield as the Illinois State Military Museum plans to display General Santa Anna's captured prosthetic leg from October through December. The artifact, long held in Springfield and occasionally criticized by visitors who want it returned to Mexico, remains a centerpiece of the museum's Mexican-American War collection.
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📸 Around Springfield
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Springfield
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival →
Inn At 835 Boutique Hotel, 835 S 2nd St, Springfield
12:00 pm
Saturday September 5
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Pre-K Family Night
Ball Elementary School , 1015 New City Rd, Chatham, IL 62629, U
6:00 pm - Labor Day - No School
Ball-Chatham CUSD 5 201 W. Mulberry, Chatham, IL 62629
Thursday September 3
Monday September 7
📣 Springfield Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Boys Varsity Golf vs Glenwood High School
Springfield High School 101 S Lewis St, Springfield Illinois 62704-1899
4:00 pm - Boys Varsity Golf @ Springfield High School
Springfield Southeast High Sch 101 S Lewis St, Springfield Illinois 62704-1899
4:00 pm - Girls JV Tennis vs O'Fallon Township High School
Springfield High School 101 S Lewis St, Springfield Illinois 62704-1899
4:15 pm - Girls Varsity Tennis vs O'Fallon Township High School
Springfield High School 101 S Lewis St, Springfield Illinois 62704-1899
4:15 pm - Baseball at LaSalle
John F Kennedy Elem School LaSalle Lincoln Jr. High
4:30 pm - Girls Varsity Swimming @ O'Fallon Township High School
Springfield High School 600 S Smiley, OFallon IL 62269
5:00 pm - Girls Freshman Volleyball vs Jacksonville High School
Springfield High School 101 S Lewis St, Springfield Illinois 62704-1899
5:00 pm - Boys Varsity Soccer @ Pleasant Plains High School
Springfield Southeast High Sch 900 S Walnut St, Williamsville IL 62693
5:00 pm - Boys Varsity Soccer vs Jacksonville High School
Springfield High School 1201 Bunn St, Springfield, IL 62703, Springfield Illinois 627
6:00 pm
Tuesday September 1
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- NORTHBOUND 11TH STREET TO DETOUR AT SOUTH GRAND AVENUE FOR WATER WORK On Tuesday, 9/1, northbound 11th St will detour at S. Grand Ave while Water... (X: CWLP_)
- City council is set to debate a $ million renewal for police technology on Sept. 1....... (X: SJRbreaking)
- Pizza Hut, Inc. posted a job opening for Team Member in Springfield. Apply here.
- MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Furniture Assembler Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $18-$47/Hr in Springfield. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Springfield here.
Ok Springfield! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: By starting with a large fortune. (Thank you Kourtney Z. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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